Khama attacks Gbagbo at electorial symosium

Officially opening the 5th Global Electoral Organisation Conference in Gaborone yesterday, Khama said greed, corruption and undemocratic practices had led to manipulation of constitutions, electoral processes and the rule of law.

"When leaders refuse to accept election results in processes that have been deemed to be free and fair in their execution, they should be held to account," he said. The President condemned the idea of governments of national unity that came after electoral processes were subverted, in order to negotiate a brokered deal to compensate for the loss at the ballot box. "Africa has its share of such agreements made between political opponents to share power after the electoral process has either been manipulated or disrupted," he said. "This is a very worrying trend, which sends the wrong message to citizens about the value of their vote."